Pubdate: Wed, 05 Oct 2005 Source: Vancouver Sun (CN BC) Copyright: 2005 The Vancouver Sun Contact: http://www.canada.com/vancouver/vancouversun/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/477 Author: Jim Chambers Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05/n1569/a09.html Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mdma.htm (Ecstasy) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine) HYSTERICAL UNTRUTHS WON'T SCARE KIDS AWAY FROM DRUGS Re: Column underplayed the seriousness of crystal meth, Letters, Oct. 3 As a recovering drug addict in his 50s, I was relieved to see Peter McKnight's Sept. 24 column "The Meth Myth" as a dispassionate attempt to examine the meth problem, amid the media hype and artificially generated hysteria about what has been a cyclical problem here since the mid-1960s. In his letter, Steve Fachler made the astounding claim that 60 per cent of marijuana seized is "dusted" with crystal meth. This claim is ridiculous and untrue. The other scary propaganda often stated is that ecstasy is cut with crystal meth, ignoring the fact that it is a derivative form of methamphetamine in the first place and deserves to be feared for its own attributes. I'm not attempting to say anything good about amphetamines, but perpetuating hysterical lies is counterproductive to getting kids to choose not to harm themselves with these substances. Jim Chambers Vancouver - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D